IDO 2026 in Mannheim
The Highlights
Mannheim provided the setting for an unforgettable IDO 2026, bringing together participants and dedicated teachers from around the world. Under the patronage of Lord Mayor Christian Specht, inspiring encounters, fresh perspectives and a shared spirit of growth defined this edition of the Internationale Deutscholympiade.
Welcome to the International German Olympiad (IDO) in Mannheim! The participants and their dedicated teachers from all over the world had the chance to experience this creative, diverse and international city. With Mannheim’s Lord Mayor, Christian Specht, acting as patron of the 2026 International German Olympiad (IDO), we were delighted to enjoy inspiring encounters, fresh ideas – and a genuine sense ZusammenWachsen.
All gold, silver and bronze medallists in the three language levels – A2, B1 and B2 – at the 2026 International German Olympiad in Mannheim From left to right: Martin Granec (Slovakia), Saul Wheeler (Silver B1 – United Kingdom), Misheel Bayarbat (Mongolia), Mark Yuri Afanasiev (Silver A2 – Canada), Marjona Ibadulayeva (Uzbekistan), José Emiliano Pillado Aguilar (Bronze A2 – Mexico), Olimbek Baxtiyorov (Bronze B1 – Uzbekistan), Teji Gaprindashvili (Bronze B2 – Georgia), Petr Malý (Silver B2 – Czech Republic) | © Goethe-Institut / Andreas Dahn
The gold medallists in the three language levels – A2, B1 and B2 – at the 2026 International German Olympiad in Mannheim. From left to right: Misheel Bayarbat (Mongolia), Martin Granec (Slovakia), Marjona Ibadulayeva (Uzbekistan) | © Goethe-Institut / Andreas Dahn
Participants in the International German Language Olympiad during their visit to Mannheim University of Applied Sciences on 21 July 2026. | © Goethe-Institut / Andreas Dahn
Young people from all over the world trying out new 3D glasses technologies during a visit to Mannheim University of Applied Sciences on 21 July 2026 as part of the Internationalen Deutscholympiade. | © Goethe-Institut / Andreas Dahn
Participants in the International German Olympiad preparing for the group task during the competition. | © Goethe-Institut / Andreas Dahn
Participants in the International German Olympiad preparing for the group task during the competition. | © Goethe-Institut / Andreas Dahn
Participants from all over the world at the closing ceremony of the International German Olympiad’s Countries’ Evening in Mannheim on 16 July 2026. | © Goethe-Institut / Andreas Dahn
Participants in the International German Language Olympiad at the Circus Day at the Paletti Children’s and Youth Circus in Mannheim | © Goethe-Institut / Andreas Dahn
Participants in the International German Language Olympiad performing in a circus show they created themselves following workshops at the Paletti e.V. Children’s and Youth Circus in Mannheim | © Goethe-Institut / Andreas Dahn
A group of IDO participants designing their city of the future as part of the ‘Fusiopolis’ workshop at the TUMO Centre in Mannheim. | © Goethe-Institut / Andreas Dahn
Participants in the International German Language Olympiad at the workshop ‘Fusiopolis – Young people working together to design a city of the future’ at the TUMO Centre in Mannheim | © Goethe-Institut / Andreas Dahn
From left to right: Participants Dheeren Chowdary Nouthalapati from New Zealand, Orazmuhammet Jeyhunov from Turkmenistan, Yanis Ahmed El Oualidi from Morocco and Eyad Muhamed from Saudi Arabia at the opening of the IDO at the Kunsthalle Mannheim. | © Goethe-Institut / Andreas Dahn
From left to right: Participants Marija Jure (Latvia), Elizma Barnard (South Africa), Bressly Romero Briceño (Peru) and Ifeoluwa Akinsanya (Nigeria) at the opening of the International German Language Olympiad at the Kunsthalle Mannheim. | © Goethe-Institut / Andreas Dahn
Participants in the Internationalen Deutscholympiade 2026 with Johannes Ebert, Secretary-General of the Goethe-Institut, and Christian Specht, patron and Lord Mayor, in front of the water tower in Mannheim. | © Goethe-Institut / Andreas Dahn
